I was recently called upon to assist my uncle, and later my parents in installing their Digital Converter Boxes so that they will be ready for this “Digital Transition” that is still tormenting us with text flybys on our local channels. Besides my relatives, I find other people prone to ask just why this conversion is happening, when it's official, how it works and what do they have to do to prepare.

To be totally honest, this should have happened a long time ago. Berlin, Germany has been digital since 2003, The Netherlands have been all digital since 2006, while Finland & Sweden have been digital since 2007. But what does “Digital” mean for the average couch potato?

Why
Probably the most important answer is that a digital signal takes up less bandwidth than an analog signal. What this means for you and me is that digital broadcasters can provide more digital channels in the same space, provide high definition television service, and on-television services such as multimedia or interactivity. Freeing radio spectrum space, which can then be auctioned off for other purposes is another reason.

When
Originally planned to take effect nationwide in February 2009, some genius decided it would be a good idea to postpone the switch to June 2009; something to do with people being too lazy to go out and do what their TV stations have been telling them to do for over a year. Although keep in mind, each individual broadcaster has the right to stop analog transmission as soon as they are ready. Some have already begun doing this, so just because the official transition isn't until June 12 2009, there is a high likelihood that most of your favorite channels will stop broadcasting in analog long before June. Although if you have Digital Cable or Satellite, this article does not even apply to you since those are already digital.

How do I prepare?
Your old television set and rabbit ears (or roof mounted) antenna will be lovely decoration if you do nothing.
Once the broadcast signals are changed from analog (waves) to digital (1's and 0's), your old antenna will be able to grab them just fine, but your TV will have no clue what to do with this alien information coming in. This is where a Digital Converter Box comes in. (On the flip side, if you recently bought a brand new TV, check if it comes with a “Digital Tuner” built in, as most new TVs do. In this case, you won't need to do anything at all!) This box reads the digital broadcast, converts it to an analog signal and sends it to your TV. From that point, you can keep watching Days of Our Lives just like normal. You can buy a Digital Converter Box at almost any store that sells electronics. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Radio Shack, Best Buy, pick your poison. Keeping in mind, you do not need a new antenna. Hooking up your fancy newfangled Converter couldn't be simpler. Have you ever hooked up a DVD player? You can do this too.
Your antenna coaxial cable goes to the “In” port on the Converter Box, and another Coaxial Cable (or Composite cables, your choice) comes out the “Out” port of the Converter Box and into the “In” port of your TV. After that, you turn your TV (to channel 3 most likely) and Converter Box on, and follow any instructions either on screen or in the included manual to save your channels. The remote that comes with your Converter Box will be used to change channels and adjust volume now.

All is well and you're all set to watch all of your old favorites and some new ones too! Right?

Wrong. Everything has a down side. My uncle, mentioned at the outset, ended up getting all his old channels crystal clear and several new channels he didn't get before. While my parents (who live in the mountains) used to get a total of 8 channels, can now only receive 2 channels. This is entirely dependent on where you live.
Since analog comes in waves, you can get channels in clear, spotty or weak. Digital comes in digits, and needs the full set of information to decode the channel. This means that you either get it, or you don't. All or nothing. So expect that if you got an analog channel in weak, you will probably not be able to get it in digitally at all. Fortunately, digital signals are not as susceptible to interference as analog signals, so your results will vary.

Be sure to visit dtv2009.gov to apply for a rebate coupon. Digital Converter Boxes aren't free, you know.